HB 3525
Requires, for each dwelling unit rented by a landlord for which the source of drinking water is an exempt well in a ground water quality management area, that the landlord collect and test samples of drinking water from the dwelling unit for arsenic, coliform bacteria, lead and nitrates.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
81%
Oppose
19%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill requires landlords who rent dwellings with exempt wells in groundwater quality management areas to regularly test their tenants’ drinking water for arsenic, coliform bacteria, lead, and nitrates. The Oregon Health Authority will create rules for how this testing should be conducted and reported. Landlords must provide test results to tenants and, if contaminants are found, must retest the well. This aims to ensure tenants have access to safe drinking water from wells that may be affected by groundwater contamination.
Key provisions
- Landlords must collect and test drinking water samples for arsenic, coliform bacteria, lead, and nitrates from dwellings with exempt wells.
- The Oregon Health Authority must create rules for testing procedures and reporting requirements.
- Landlords must provide test results to tenants within 30 days of receiving them.
- Landlords can delegate testing to tenants with written agreement.
- Initial testing is required 30 days after well installation, followed by annual testing unless contaminants are absent.
- A landlord may be exempt from testing for four years if subsequent tests are consistently negative.
- Laboratories conducting tests must be accredited and report results electronically to the Oregon Health Authority.
- Landlords must provide tenants with written notice of well status and test results before entering a rental agreement.
Who is affected
- Landlords
- Tenants
- Residents of dwellings with exempt wells
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Cosponsors
James Manning Jr.
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of House Bill 3525 generally agree that requiring landlords to conduct regular well water testing and share the results with tenants is crucial for ensuring all Oregonians have access to safe drinking water. The bill aims to address concerns about water quality and scarcity, particularly in agricultural communities, by providing transparency and accountability. the importance of protecting renters' health and well-being, as well as promoting informed decision-making about their living situation. Many advocates argue that the current bill has been weakened by amendments, but they still support its overall goal of improving access to safe drinking water for Oregonians relying on domestic wells.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of HB 3525 express concerns about regulatory overreach and the lack of a targeted, science-based approach to groundwater protection. They also cite privacy and data quality issues with the bill's intended use of data collected by private citizens. Additionally, opponents argue that the bill would duplicate existing habitability requirements, potentially infringing on property owner rights, and create unnecessary regulatory burden on landlords. Furthermore, they believe the bill's provisions would be redundant with existing laws, such as ORS Chapter 90 Landlord/Tenant requirements, and would not provide any significant benefits to tenants or the environment. Some testifiers also worry that adding another requirement on landlords will hinder the availability of rental housing in rural areas where supply is already limited.